Farm implement.



G. L. DODDS.

FARM IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 19M.

Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH c0-.WA5Hmn'roN, D. c.

G. L. DODDS.

FARM IMPLEMENT.

APPLlpATlon FILED MAY 9. 1914.

1,147,079. Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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FARM iMrLEMEN'r.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July so, 1915.

Application filed May 9, 1914. Serial No. 837,428.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnoncn LIVINGSTONE Donos, citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing atthe city of Winnipeg, inthe Province of Manitoba, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm Implements, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the cultivator class, and has for its object the production of an implement of this type particularly adapted for the destruction ofCanadian, Russian and sow thistles and other noxious weeds, and which is of great value in ,dry farming operations by reason of its ability to produce a superficial dust mulch by which the natural moisture of the earth is conserved to the best advantage, and the draw backs to which this class of farming is subjected through uncertain or scanty rainfall, are avoided.

- The objects ofthe invention are obtained 7 plement, Fig. 3 is an end View, Fig. 4. is a view of one of the blades before bending,

. Fig. 5 is a front view in perspective of one of the blades, Fig. 6 is a rear viewof the same, Fig. 7 is the supportused when it is necessary to clear theblades of obstructing matter. i i

In the different views 1 indicates the main part of the supporting frame,preferably' a plank of wood of a length suitable to the size of the implement contemplated. This may run from four to twelve or morefeet in length according" to the nature of the work for which it, isintended. In plantations where canes or trees are set 1n rows,

and the object is to cultivate the space be tween, the implement would naturally be constructed to suit the distance between the rows, thus limiting its length. i i y To the front edge of'the part 1 isseoured the part2, preferably also of woodand extending the full length" of the part 1; The

' part 2 projects upward and forward in. lip

fashion at such an'angleas isbest' calculated to assist'the part lto surmount and pass 1 such minor obstacles as may be met with port is desire over comparatively smooth .ment over the ground. 2 Blocks 1 and 5 are it secured to the upper sideof the part 1 and to the part 2-serving to maintain the dispositron of the one to the other. The bars 6 and 7 are also secured to both parts and assist 1n maintaining the shape of the frame.

The ends of the bars 6 and 7 extend out behind the frame l'and carry on their upper sides a platform 8 upon which the operator may stand or which may support a seat.

The end of the bar 7 it will be noted projects still farther behind the platform 8 and. 1s rounded to form a handle 10 by means of which therear of the implement may be raised from the ground when it becomes necessary to clear the blades from obstructions such as stubble, roots, and similar clinging matter.

11 indicates a leg loosely secured to the endof the platform 8 and adapted to support the implement in its raised position while the blades are being cleared. The leg 11 is preferably secured to the platform 8 by means of the linked connection 12 which forms a suitablyflexible medium, allowing the leg 11 to trail along the ground behind the implement when not in use.

13-18 arerunners secured to the upper sides of the parts 1 and 2, and upon which the implement may be overturned and drawn fromplace to place, when inoperative trans- 1414 are draw bars disposed as shown and bolted to the upper side of the frame 1. These extend out through the part .2 ending in ringsbrother suitable devices, by means of which a chain 15 may be secured to the implement, forming a means by which the implement may be drawnby horses or other tractive means over the ground. The draft may be arranged insuch a manner that a team may draw from each of the bars 14 by the evenerchains 15 or a single team may draw from the center as shown.

The blades 16 which are the. vital parts of the implement, are secured to the under side of the frame 1 by bolts 17, and they may be arranged with their cutting edges 18 turned The blades or cultivator attachments 16 are formed from a single piece of metal across the attaching porti0n=19,' in such mannor that the front or cuttingsidelSof the blade portion becomes the rear edge 21 of the attaching portion and the connecting metal 20 is left in the shape of an open bend, there being a space of approximately three or four inches'between the under face of the attaching portion and the upper face-of the blade portion-at the curve.

The bending of'theattachment when finished is distinctly novel in the following particular: When the attachment is secured -'to the underside of the frame lasshown in the drawings the frame lbein'g in level position, the blade portion 16 dips'from rear to cutting edge at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The=front edge 22 (FigsB, 4C, 5 and ,6) of the bent portion stands up perpendicularly, with a gouge shaped lipQat connecting' it with the blade'p'ropen-while the rear edge 23 describes a semicircular curve. As shown in the;drawings,the cultivator attachments are bolted to the under side of the 'framel such manner; that the blades 16 extend diagonally awayfrom the rear, the "side of'the bent portion 20 of each standing substantially at right angles to the; longitudinal direction of the frame 1 and the blades are'so spaced as-to overlap each otherto a certain ,eXtent'to insure the even treatment of all the soil covered by theimplement.

It will be understood that as the depth or perpendicular diameter of the bent portion of the cultivator attachments regulates the distance to which'the blades will enterthe ground, and that as the front edges of these, as also the edges'22 of the bent portion; have been groundto a reasonable degree ofshar pmass the operation of the implement willbe as follows: The'i mplement' bein-ggiven a forward movement, owing to the peculiar shape'of'the bent portion ofthe attachment as'p'reviously described the part '22 of-the bends being practically perpendicular acts in a manner similar 9 to that of a colter of v a plow, causing the blades to enter the ground practically without resistance. The

frame 1 prevents the blades from entering the ground'beyond the distance predetermined, usually about-3 or L inches, and they a th re fter. raw e ongattha depth low the surface. "Owingtothe manner in ,whichthey are set it will be noted that the 'action of the bladesis a forward slicing or no cuttingaction, slmilar to the angle stroke of a razor upon the face, and by no means a dragging or tearing action. For th1s reason the draft of the lmplement is extremely light in proportion to its. executiomandfthe roots of noxious weeds are-evenly out at the a proper distance below --the surface of i the soil to insure=their destruction.

As previously mentioned the rear edge 0 eachbla'de is raised at an angle of about 45 degrees above the cutting edge, and the separated portion of the soil is forced to travel 5 up the incline carrying with itthe topsof; the separated weeds. As the soil sifts over the rearedge of the blades, it being the heavier, 7 it naturally falls first thus casting the-weeds -to the surface, when exposure of their tender parts to the air effectually kills them and-prevents reseeding. 'lThe sifting of the-soil over the rear edge ofthe blade serves to effectually disintegrate-and pul- --verizeit, thus forming dust mulch well calculated to prevent evaporation of the -moisturein the-subsoil.

Scientific research has amply shownthat the soil naturally contains a suiiicient amount a of i moisture to insure a crop under almost any conditions i of rainfall could the natural moisture *be a conserved, but unfortunately, owing to-the lack of aproper implement for 'thepurpose, the soil 1 in most cases has been-allowed to become crusted upon the surface after which it rapidly I bakes and i the moisture is evaporated and lost. -My inventionprovides a ready'means of -breaking the crust mentioned, and only so deeplyas is necessary thus preventingthe baking and consequent loss of-imoistur e, and after the firstweed cutting trip over the soil "has" been made the blades may be shifted in the position shown by dotted blade=16 -in i 1, after avhich the mulching process may be repeated as frequently as'baking of the-soil=occurs.

"Having thus fully described my said -invention and its action what I claim-is.-

1. 'A "farm implement: comprising aframe adaptedto rest-upon and be drawn over the surface "ofthe ground 'and-a plurality of members adapted to operateib'elow the surface -'of the ground, each of 'saidmembers having a shank portion for attachment to formneck and blade portions, the neckporrearwardly aW-ayfromthe frameaan'd being dispos'ed uponadownwardly inclined plane from rear to cutting edge,--whereby a 7 downward pull is exerted upon the frame to cause the same to level and pack the soil over which it passes.

2. A farm implement comprising a frame adapted to be drawn over the surface of the ground and aplurality of members adapted to operate below the surface of the ground, each of said members having a shank portion for attachment to the frame and a portion comparatively wider than the shank portion, said wider portion being twisted over to form neck and blade portions, the blade portion extending diagonally away from the rear of the frame and the neck connecting the shank and blade and having its forward and cutting edge standing substantially at right angles thereto and its rear edge describing a curve whereby the rear edge of the blade is raised above the cutting edge thereof and lodgment of separated matter in the neck prevented.

3. A farm implement comprising a frame adapted to be drawn over the surface of the ground and a plurality of members adapted to operate below the surface of the ground, each of said members having a shank portion for attachment to the frame and a portion comparatively wider than the shank portion, the wider portion belng twisted over to form neck and blade portions, the

blade portion extending diagonally away from the rear of the frame and the neck standing substantially at right angles to the shank and blade and connecting the same, and a gouge shaped lip formed by the neck and blade at their point of junction.

4:. A farm implement comprising a frame adapted to be drawn over the ground and a plurality of members adapted to operate below the surface of the ground, each of said members having a shank portion for attachment to the frame and a portion comparatively wider than the shank portion, said wider portion being twisted over to form neck and blade portions, the blade extending diagonally away from the rear of the frame and being disposed upon an upwardly inclined plane from front to rear, the front of the neck standing substantially at right angles to the shank and forming a gouge shaped lip-like junction with the blade and the rear edge of the neck describing a curve.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE LIVINGSTONE DODDS.

Witnesses:

LESLIE A. DoWKER, ALBERT C. MOARN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. 0. 

